We have politicians trying to "get the base all riled up because it provides a short-term tactical advantage," Barack Obama said at a campaign rally for Ralph Northam, the Democratic nominee for Virginia governor, Thursday night, saying America had to aspire to a better form of politics.

• "If you had to win a campaign by dividing people, you're not gonna be able to govern them," he added. "You won't be able to unite them later, if that's how you start."
• "Folks don't feel good right now about what they see. They don't feel as if our public life reflects our best."